Autolus Therapeutics shares surge 5.35% on strategic upgrade from Needham & Co.

Shares of Autolus Therapeutics surged 5.3476% in pre-market trading on Dec. 31, 2025, signaling renewed investor confidence following a strategic upgrade from Needham & Co.

The firm raised its price target for the biotech company to $11 from $10, maintaining a "Buy" rating and designating Autolus as a top pick for 2026.

Analysts highlighted the robust performance of Aucatzyl, which generated $76 million in sales, alongside promising data from the FELIX study and obe-cel trials in relapsed/refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia. These developments suggest an expanding market opportunity, with Needham projecting breakeven potential by 2028 based on Aucatzyl revenue alone.

While skepticism persists regarding the company’s path to profitability, Needham argued that current valuation levels undervalue the potential of obe-cel in lupus nephritis, a pipeline asset poised for clinical updates in early 2026. The firm emphasized the stock’s "attractive valuation" and "strong opportunity for value creation" as key drivers for its optimistic outlook.

Despite recent gains, Autolus remains in the developmental stage with ongoing research and regulatory hurdles ahead. The stock’s long-term success will depend on the successful execution of its clinical trials and market adoption of its therapies. Investors are advised to closely monitor upcoming data releases and regulatory developments as key inflection points for the company’s trajectory.